Make the most of your stay in Telford

We’ve done the homework for you, so you can go out and make the most of your stay

Planning a stay in Telford?

Telford sits in the ‘West Midlands triangle’ (of Shrewsbury, Stafford and Wolverhampton – roughly a 30-minute drive from each), in the county of Shropshire. Formed in the 1960s/70s (from a bunch of other smaller towns), Telford is the UK’s fastest growing town and has so much to offer you.

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Ironbridge Gorge

Welcome to the heart of the industrial revolution! Well, at least it was if you were hanging up your plough in the 18th century. Head to the Ironbridge Gorge (one of the first World Heritage Sites in Britain) to see the mighty Iron Bridge. Back then, it was the Google (or Facebook) of its time – forward thinking and had never been done before. Opened in 1781, the Iron Bridge was the first ever bridge to be made from cast iron – a new material at the time.

There is so much around the Gorge to get stuck into. Once you’ve crossed that bridge, head over to Darby Houses to see how Quakers lived (open 10am-5pm seven days a week; £3.75 for kids and £5.25 for adults), or put your hard hat on and head deep under ground through the Tar Tunnel (10.30am-4pm seven days a week; £2.50 for kids and £3.25 for adults), or you can put science (and yourself) to the test at Enginuity (open 10am-5pm seven days a week; £7.25 for kids and £8.75 for adults). The Jackfield Tile Museum (open 10am-5pm seven days a week; £5.75 for kids and £8.50 for adults) puts it all on display and is a visual treat (even for those who aren’t ‘museum people’). If you’re thinking of taking in a few of the attractions, it might save you a few pennies by purchasing an Annual Passport Ticket (£27.50 per adult, £16.50 per kid, or £68 for a family of four).

The Gorge is five miles from the centre of Telford and the Sat Nav postcodes for each attraction can be found here, along with information on the shuttle bus and Park & Ride service that operates on the weekends and bank holidays. Or, take cycle route 45 and 55 if you’re going by two (push-bike) wheels.

Hoo Farm

Just can’t get enough of those furry, feathered or scaled creatures? Well, you’ve come to the right place. With 32 acres of paddocks and woodland, Hoo Farm is home to owls, wallabies, emus, parrots, alpacas, water buffalo, snakes…in fact, it has 125 breeds of animals, across mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

But you don’t just get to look at the animals from afar. You can get right close up and personal, with the opportunity to feed lambs, pigs and deer. You can also collect eggs from the Hen House, or do a lap go carting, ride ponies and place your bets for the Sheep Steeplechase and goat race. Yes, a goat race, promising even bigger fences and sharper hairpin bends than ever before, as they make their way over Demon Drop, Towering Tyre and Puissance Wall.

They have events going on throughout the year, which you can check out here. Parking if free and it’s easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Opening times vary throughout the year (check them out here), but it’s largely open Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm. The sheep racing days are also listed alongside the opening times. Prices are super reasonable – under 2s can go free, and then it’s £7.45 (off peak) per adult or child and £7.95 (on peak). A family ticket – which is for five people – costs £35 (off peak) and £37 (on peak). Check out all details here.

Hoo Farm is accessible by car, just off junction 6 on the M54, just pop in ‘Humber Lane’ into your Sat Nav.

Stafford Castle

Hate not knowing what happened in 1066? If you like history, castles and knights’ tales, then Stafford Castle is your next destination. With a varied history dating back to 1100 AD, Stafford Castle has some stories to tell. Like the time the financial woes of the Stafford family played heavily on their minds (during the time of William the Conqueror). Or the time that Lady Isabel Stafford bravely defended its walls against Parliamentary forces during the Civil War. Or the time it was demolished and rebuilt (in 1813), only to then fall into ruin and be rebuilt again in the 19th century. Today, the castle stands as a testament to its 900-year history and is one of the finest examples of Norman earthworks in the country to have survived the test of time.

The visitors centre (next door) offers audio/visual guides, displays of arms, armour and costumes, and the opportunity to have a go at coin minting (making money) and brass rubbing. It also has a carousel of events and exhibits throughout the year (take a look here). And, every summer, the castle plays backdrop to open-air theatre during the Stafford Festival Shakespeare.

In the grounds of the castle, you can find a 16-bed herb garden (herbs were the antibiotics of the day) and each herb relates to an illness. The castle itself offers a keep (a fortified tower) which you can climb and an inner and outer bailey (a walled courtyard, of sorts).

The best part? It’s all free. Open Wednesday to Sunday (11am-4pm) from April to October and from November to March it’s open on Saturday and Sunday only (11am-4pm). Accessible by car, pop the postcode ‘ST16 1DJ’ into your Sat Nav.

Telford Town Park

Looking to just chill out? Or fancy burning off some energy? Telford Town Park really does offer everything but the kitchen sink (and maybe that’s just hidden away somewhere), with 420 acres of green open space, bowling, ice skating and the list goes on…

First off, by the nature of its name, it is a park. Telford Town Park offers 420 acres of grassland, woodland, heathland, pools and ponds, railways and canals to meander around aimlessly. Then there are the gardens – the ones originally designed for the Chelsea Flower Show, and also the Community Gardens and Maxwell Gardens.

If it’s play you’re after, say hello to hours of endless scurrying around webs and tunnels, whizzing down slides and running around their new inclusive play area (designed for disabled and non-disabled kids alike). Or fancy cooling off? Head to Water Play for jets, soakers and musical fountains. Hot off the high wire is Closer To The Edge, their new aerial ropes course where you scramble, leap and scamper 40 feet from the forest floor (whilst clipped on to a safety rail system at all times). There’s also a mini golf, fishing, geocaching (a ‘real-world outdoor treasure hunt’), amusement park Wonderland, cycle training at Cycle Centre, bowling at Tenpin and ice skating.

And that’s not all of it. To see everything on offer (and find out prices and opening times) it’s best to visit their website for yourself.

Pop ‘TF3 4EP’ into your Sat Nav and you can choose from several car parks, signposted for Telford Shopping Centre. It’s also a 5-minute drive from Telford Central train station and a 10-minute walk from Telford Bus Station.

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